Textile picker machine with clutch-controlled driving mechanism



Feb.- 26, 1963 R. L. ROBERTS 3,079,098

TEXTILE PICKER MACHINE WITH CLUTCH-CONTROLLED DRIVING MECHANISM FiledJan. 5, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ana SOURCE- Feb. 26, 1963 R. L. ROBERTS3,079,098

TEXTILE PICKER MACHINE WITH CLUTCH-CONTROLLED DRIVING MECHANISM FiledJan. 5, 1960 2 heer 2 S fly-4 Q tl/ww s 3| 6| so 5b sz 32 s Z 57 JRJ 2iso 3 0= 54- /////////////////////7/,&'

INVENTOR: RALPH L. Rosem's BY 4* W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3il79,il8 TEXTHJE PECKER It fACHINE WRTH CLUTCH- EGNTRGLLED DRIVINGMEEHANHSM Ralph L. Roberts, Granite Falls, N.C., assignor to GraniteMachine Company, Hickory, N.C., a corporation of North Iarolina Filedinn. 5, 1950, Ser. No. 571 Claims. (Ci. 24255.l)

The present invention relates to an improved clutchcontrolled drivingmechanism in a machine for forming lap rolls of fibrous textilematerial, commonly known as a picker machine, and more particularly, toan improvement over the driving mechanism disclosed in my co-pend ingapplication, Serial No. 763,274, filed September 25, 1958.

conventionally, the picker mechanism of a picker machine is operatedfrom a main driven gear to which rotation is imparted from acontinuously rotating power shaft by means of a driving pinion gearmounted on the power shaft for rotation therewith and adapted to bemoved into and out of meshing relationship with the main driven gear tostart and stop the picker mechanism. A belt drive in constant operationassures continous rotation of the power shaft. A knock-oft leversupports the power shaft in a bearing and may be moved to position thepinion gear carried by the power shaft for rotation therewith in and outof meshing relationship with the main driven gear of the picker machine.

The movement of the continuously rotating power shaft by the knock-offlever to place the pinion gear in meshing relationship with the mainoperating gear for the picker mechanism necessarily requires therotating teeth of the pinion gear to be thrust into meshing relationshipwith the stationary teeth of the main operating gear as the initial stepin operating the picker mechanism. The natural consequences of such anarrangement result in a relatively inefficient driving means for thepicker machine. Not only is there a considerable amount of clatteringnoise whenever the rotating pinion gear is moved into meshing engagementwith the then stationary main operating gear of the picker machine, asituation is presented wherein the teeth on either or both of the piniongear and the main operating gear may be broken due to the excessivestrain placed thereon. Extremely rapid wear of these gears willinevitably occur, while the possibility of flying sparks from theclashing of the gears which are metallic causes a tire hazard.

While the picker driving mechanism disclosed and claimed in myco-pending application, Serial No. 763,274, is effective to overcome thedifficulties presented by the ineflicient driving mechanism describedabove, the improvement described in my co-pending application does notaffeet the operation of the power shaft for the picker machine whichremains in continuous rotation even when the picker mechanism of themachine is not operating. Moreover, other shafts which derive theirpower from the belt drive either directly or indirectly for operatingvarious parts associated with the picker machine remain in continuousrotation, thus adding to the load imposed on the belt drive. The beltdrive of the picker machine therefore remains under a constant variableload at all times which limits the effective life of the belt drivemachinery while increasing wear of the parts associated with the pickermachine which remain in operation even though the picker mechanism isstopped.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide in a picker machineequipped with a belt drive, a power shaft, and a pinion gear rigidlymounted on the power shaft for continuous meshing engagement with a mainoperating gear which drives the picker mechanism; a clutch assemblyoperably associated with a pulley of the belt drive and 3,379,6fi8Patented Feb. 25, 1963 controllable by an operator to impart rotation tothe power shaft only when the clutch assembly is in clutching engagementwith the pulley.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide in combinationwith a picker machine equipped with a belt drive, an operating shaft anda power shaft driven by the belt drive through the operating shaft,wherein the power shaft has a pinion gear rigidly mounted thereon forcontinuous meshing engagement with a main operating gear which drivesthe picker mechanism; a clutch assembly mounted on an end of theoperating shaft which extends through a pulley of the belt drive, theclutch assembly being controlled by an operator between clutching andde-clutching positions with respect to the pulley to permit theoperating shaft and the power shaft to be rotated only when clutchingengagement between the clutch assembly and the pulley of the belt driveis effected.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is a front elevationalview of a picker machine equipped with the improved clutch-controlleddriving mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, looking at theleft-hand side of the picker machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, looking at theright-hand side of the picker machine shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4in FIGURE 2.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, a portion of a machine forforming lap rolls of fibrous material, more commonly referred to as apicker machine, is illus trated in FIGURES 1-3, inclusive. As seen inFIGURE 1, the picker machine comprises side frame members 10, Illbetween which are suitably journaled a lower operating shaft 11 and anupper power shaft 12, the upper shaft 12 being in vertically spacedparallel relationship with respect to the lower operating shaft 11.

The picker machine includes the usual lap pin 13 around which is adaptedto be wound the lap 14. The proper amount of downward pressure may beexterted on both ends of the lap pin 13 by suitable means, such aspiston heads 15 which are urged downwardly into engagement with the endsof the lap pin 13 by fluid pressure housed in pressure cylinders 16mounted above the lap pin 13.

The power shaft 12 is driven by the operating shaft 11 through a chaindrive. In this connection, a sprocket 20 is provided on one end of thepower shaft 12, a sprocket 21 is provided on the cor-responding end ofthe operating shaft 11, and an endless chain 22 is entrained about thesprockets 29' and 21. A pinion gear 24 is rigidly aflixed to the otherend of the power shaft 12 for rotation therewith. The pinion gear 24 iscontinuously maintained in meshing engagement with a main operating gear25 which serves to operate the picker mechanism.

From FIGURE 4, it will be seen that a clutch assembly. 30 is rigidlymounted on the end of the operating shaft 11 carrying the sprocket 21around Which chain 22 is entrained for driving the power shaft 12. Theclutch assembly 30 is similar to that disclosed and claimed in myaforesaid co-pending application, Serial No. 763,274, and comprises agenerally cylindrical housing 31 having a rear radial wall 32 which isprovided with a pair of upper and lower rearwardly extending annularflanges 33, 34. e

The bore through the lower annular flange 34 of the clutch housing 31receives the end of the operating shaft 11, the lower annular flange 34being affixed to the operating shaft 11 by key 35 to cause the clutchassembly 30 to be rigidly carried by the operating shaft 11. The clutchassembly 3i is further secured to the end of the ope-rating shaft 11 bymeans of a cylindrical plug 36 pressed snugly Within the bore of thelower annular flange 34 and a threaded bolt 37 which extends through theplug 36 into a threaded socket 323 provided in the end of the operatingshaft 11. The plug 36 includes an annular radial flange 3h which abutsthe rear wall 32 of the clutch housing 31.

The belt drive for the picker machine includes a pulley or wheel 48-about which belt 41 is entrained, the pulley or wheel 40 having anannular inner hub portion 42 surrounding the lower annular flange 34- ofthe clutch housing 31 in radially spaced relationship with respectthereto. Suitable means, such as anti-friction ball bearings 13, 43, areinterposed between the lower flange 34 of the clutch housing 31 and thehub portion 42 of the pulley 4a to mount the puhey 4i; for relativerotation with respect to the operating shaft 11 and the clutch assembly3% carried thereby. i

It will be noted that the hub portion 42 of the pulley 4%) is providedwith an internal annular collar is intermediate the ends thereof whichserves as a spacer element between the bearings 43, 43, while the lowerannular flange 34 of the clutch housing 31 includes a shoulder 45adjacent rear wall 32 and a threaded portion 46 on its end remote fromthe rear wall 32 for reception of a nut 47 which is adapted to bearagainst the inner race of the bearing 43 adjacent thereto. Upontightening the nut 47, the bearings 43, 43 rotatively mounting thepulley 49 are clamped between the shoulder 45, the collar 44, and thenut 47 to prevent axial movement of the pulley 4i; relative to theclutch assembly 3% and the operating shaft 11.

The remaining details of the clutch assembly 3i} shown in FIGURE 4 aresubstantially identical with those of the clutch assembly disclosed andclaimed in my aforesaid co-pending application. In this respect, theforward open end of the clutch housing 31 is closed by a cover plate 50which includes a marginal annular lip portion 51 and an integralradially inwardly extending body portion 52, the thickness of the bodyportion 52 being substantially less than that of the marginal annularlip portion 51 to provide an inwardly opening pocket. A resilientpressureresponsive diaphragm or disk 53 is sandwiched between the clutchhousing 31 and the annular marginal lip portion 51 of the cover 50. Thediaphragm 53 closes the open end of the pocket formed in the cover plate50 to provide a pressure chamber 54 of varying volume. On the side ofthe diaphragm 53 opposite from the pressure chamber 54, there is locateda flat metal disk or piston 55. The clutch housing 31 and its coverplate h define a pressure cylinder in which the piston 55 is mounted forreciprocable movement for a purpose to be subsequently described.

Au annular clutch plate 56 having a substantially planarclutchingsurface is mounted outside of the clutch housing 31 adjacent the rearwall 32, the clutch plate 56 being rigidly connected to the piston 55for axial movement therewith by pins 57 which extend through suitableapertures in the rear wall 32 of the clutch housing 51. The pins 57cooperate with the rear wall 32 of the clutch housing 31 to constrainthe piston Y55 and the clutch plate 56 to rotate with the clutch housing31, while additionally maintaining the piston 55 and clutch plate 56 inproperly centered relation to the clutch. housing 31.

The cover 59 receives a fluid conduit 60 which is suitably journaledtherein to permit the entire clutch assembly 30 to rotate with respectto the fluid conduit 60. The fluid conduit 60 provides communicationbetween the pressure chamber 54 within the clutch housing 3-1 and asource of fluid pressure, as for example, compressed air. Upon thedelivery of fluid pressure through the conduit 60 into the pressurechamber 54, the resilient diaphragm 53 being pressure-responsive isstretched rearwardly toward the rear wall 32 of the clutch housing 31.As the 4 resilient diaphragm 53 stretches rearwardly, it imparts axialmovement to the piston 55 which results in the rearward axial movementof the clutch plate 56.

The hub portion 52 of the pulley ill carries a friction disk 61 providedwith a substantially planar clutching surface, the friction disk 61being mounted on one end of the hub portion 4 2 in opposition to theclutch plate 56. It will be observed that the outer annular flange 33 extending from the rear wall 32 of the clutch housing 31 surrounds theclutch plate 56 and the friction disk 61 to guard against accidentaldefacing of the planar clutch surfaces of these two elements.

Unless fluid pressure is supplied to the clutch assem bly 36, the clutchplate 56 and the friction disk 61 will be retained in spaced apartrelationship by virtue of the biasing action of a coil spring 62 whichis seated between the threaded bolt 37 and the piston 55. The spring 62biases the piston 55 forwardly to place the clutch plate 56 in abutmentwith the rear wall 32 of the clutch housing 31.

Thus, it will be apparent that the driving belt 41 assures continuousrotation of the pulley 49, while the clutch assembly 30 and theoperating shaft 11 to which it is aflixed are stationary at times whenthe clutch plate 56 carried by the clutch assembly 30 and the frictiondisk 61 which is carried by the hub portion 42 of the pulley 40 are inspaced apart relationship. The belt drive while providing for continuousrotation of the pulley 4-0 therefore does not operate under the load ofthe operating shaft 11 and the power shaft 12 unless clutchingengagement is effected between the clutch plate 56 and the trio tiondisk 61.

Upon supplying suflicient fluid pressure through the conduit 66} intothe pressure chamber 54 to force the diaphragm 53 and its associatedpiston 55 toward the rear wall 32 of the clutch housing 31 a distancegreat enough to enable the clutch plate 56 to engage the friction disk61 carried by the pulley 40, such clutching engagement is effective toimpart rotation from the pulley 40 to the clutch assembly 30 and theoperating shaft 11 to which it is rigidly aflixed. Consequently, thepower shaft 12 is rotated because ofthe chain and sprocket drive betweenthe power shaft 12 and the operating shaft 11 and the pinion gear 24carried by the opposite end of the power shaft 12 is likewise rotatedfor driving the main operating gear 25 to operate the picker mechanism.

During the initial stages of the clutching engagement between the clutchplate 56 and the friction disk 61, a certain amount of slippage existstherebetween which causes the operating shaft 11 and the elements driventhereby to be rotated at a speed somewhat slower than the normaloperating speed induced from the belt drive. As fluid pressure continuesto build up in the pressure chamber 54, the degree of friction betweenthe opposed surfaces of the clutch plate 56 and friction disk 61 isincreased to reduce the amount of slippage therebetween until the clutchassembly 30 and the operating shaft 11 aflixed thereto are driven inunison with the pulley 49.

This driving arrangement assures that little or no noise will resultfrom the starting-up of a picker machine, this relatively silentstarting-up stage being also accomplished by the driving mechanismdisclosed in my aforesaid copending application, Serial No. 763,274, andpresenting a decided contrast to the loud clattering necessarily resulting from convention-a1 picker drive mechanisms. In addition tosubstantially reducing Wear between the pinion gear 24 and the mainoperating gear 25 driven thereby, the present invention also removes theload from the belt drive of the picker machine except during periods ofactual operation of the picker mechanism. In this connection,conventionally the operating shaft 11 and the power shaft 12 are incontinuous rotation, the operating shaft 11 serving to continuouslydrive a secondary shaft 63 by means of suitable gear boxes 64, 65(FIGURE 3). The secondary shaft 63 may operate a beater section (notshown) which cleans trash and lint from the fibrous strands prior totheir formation into the lap roll 14. Under these conditions,conventional picker mechanisms and the improved drive means for a pickermachine disclosed in my co-pending application require that the beltdrive be maintained under a continuous load imposed by the constantrotation of the operating shaft 11 and the elements driven therebytogether with the power shaft 12. The present invention frees the beltdrive from operating under an adverse load except during times when thepicker mechanism is actually in operation by providing for the rotationof the operating shaft 11 and the power shaft 12 only when it is desiredto operate the picker mechanism.

The supply of fluid pressure to operate the clutch assembly 30 iscontrolled by providing valve means 66 in the conduit 60 to regulate thedelivery of fluid pressure to the chamber 54. The valve 66 is opened todeliver fluid pressure into the chamber 54 for actuating the clutchassembly 30 in the manner previously described by depressing a footpedal 67 pivotally connected to the housing of valve 66.

The foot-operated valve 66 may be tied in with the knock-0d means on thepicker machine in such a manner as to automatically deactivate theclutch assembly 30, thus stopping the picker machine when the lap roll14 has reached -a predetermined diameter, the foot pedal 67 beingoperatively connected to the knock-off lever 70 in the same mannerdisclosed in my aforesaid co-pending application for this purpose.

Upon the closing of valve 66, a port (not shown) in the valve housingwhich communicates with the pressure chamber 54 in the clutch assembly30 is opened to permit the fluid pressure to be exhausted therefrom fordeactivating the clutch assembly 30 to stop the rotation of theoperating shaft 11 and consequently stop the picker machine. The valve66 is opened by depressing the foot pedal 67 which automatically closesthe exhaust port. Alternatively, raising of the knock-off lever 7t? toan elevated position causes the foot pedal 67 to be depressed foropening valve 66.

Thus, it will be seen that the present invention constitutes animprovement over the clutch-controlled picker drive mechanism disclosedand claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 763,274, in thatthe belt drive for the picker machine may operate without beingsubjected to an additional load thereon during the period when thepicker machine mechanism itself is not in operation. In this connection,the present invention contemplates the intermittent rotation of theoperating shaft 11 and the power shaft 12 for a picker machine, suchrotation being imparted from the belt drive and being controlled throughthe clutch assembly 30. Upon fluid pressure being supplied to the clutchassembly 30 in the manner previously described, clutching engagement iseffected between the clutch plate 56 carried by the clutch assembly 30and the friction disk 61 carried by the pulley 46 of the belt drive totransmit rotation from the belt drive to the operating shaft 11 and thepower shaft 12.

While the drawings in this application illustrate a clutch assembly 329of the type disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Serial N0. 763,274, it will be understood that the present invention is not tobe restricted to the specific details thereof because various clutchassemblies utilizing substantially planar clutching surfaces could beemployed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms a-re employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitations, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. in a picker machine for forming lap rolls of fibrous material, thecombination of means including a belt-driven pulley providing a sourceof constant motive energy, an operating shaft, :1 power shaft, a piniongear rigidly mounted on said power shaft, a main gear for operating thepicker mechanism of the machine, said pinion gear being in continuousmeshing engagement with said main gear, means for driving said powershaft from said operating shaft, clutch means carried by one of saidpulley and said operating shaft, and means to actuate said clutch meansinto clutching engagement with the other of said pulley and saidoperating shaft for transmitting motive energy from said pulley to saidope-rating shaft for rotating said operating shaft, whereby rotation isimparted to said power shaft and said pinion gear mounted thereon inresponse to actuation of said clutch means for driving said main gear tooperate the picker mechanism of the machine.

2. In a picker machine for forming lap rolls of fibrous material, thecombination of means including a bel driven pulley providing a source ofconstant motive energy, an operating shaft, a power shaft, a pinion gearrigidly moutned on said power shaft, a main gear for operating thepicker mechanism of the machine, said pinion gear being in continuousmeshing engagement with said main gear, means for driving said powershaft from said operating shaft, clutch means carried by said operatingshaft, and means including a knock-off lever to actuate said clutchmeans into clutching engagement with said pulley for transmitting motiveenergy from said pulley to said operating shaft for rotating saidoperating shaft, whereby rotation is imparted to said power shaft andsaid pinion gear mounted thereon in response to actuation of said clutchmeans for driving said main gear to operate the picker mechanism of themachine.

3. In a picker machine for forming a lap roll of fibrous material, thecombination of means including a beltdriven pulley providing a source ofconstant motive energy, an operating shaft, a power shaft, a pinion gearrigidly mounted on said power shaft, a main gear for operating thepicker mechanism of the machine, said pinion gear being in continuousmeshing engagement with said main gear, means for driving said powershaft fro-m said operating shaft, a fluid-pressure operated clutch meanscarried by said operating shaft, a conduit extending between said clutchmeans and a source of fluid pressure, valve means in said conduit toregulate the delivery and exhaustion of fluid pressure to and from saidclutch means, and means to open said valve means for delivering fluidpressure to said clutch means, said clutch means being thereby actuatedinto clutching engagement with said pulley for transmitting motiveenergy from said pulley to said operating shaft for rotating saidoperating shaft, whereby rotation is imparted to said power shaft andsaid pinion gear mounted thereon in response to actuation of said clutchmeans for driving said main gear to operate the picker mechanism of themachine, and picker knockoff means operable upon the lap roll attaininga predetermined diameter to close said valve means for deactivating saidclutch means to release said clutch means from clutching engagement withsaid pulley.

4. In a picker machine for forming a lap roll of fibrous material, thecombination of a driven pulley providin a source of motive energy, anoperating shaft, a power shaft, a pinion gear rigidly mounted on saidpower shaft, a main gear for operating the picker mechanism of themachine, said pinion gear being in continuous meshing engagement withsaid main gear, means for driving said power shaft from said operatingshaft, clutch means including a substantially smooth clutching surfacecarried by one of said pulley and said operating shaft, a substantiallysmooth surface complementary to said clutching surface and opposedthereto being provided on the other of said pulley and said operatingshaft, and means to actuate said clutch means for moving said clutchingsurface into clutching engagement with said complementary substantiallysmooth surface opposed thereto provided on the other of said pulley andsaid operating shaft for transmitting motive energy from said pulley tosaid operating shaft for rotating said operating shaft, whereby rotationis impart d to said power shaft and saidpinion genr mounted thereon inresgonse to actuation of said clutch means for driving said main gear tooperate the picker mechanism of the machine.

5. in a picker machine as defined in elairn 4, wherein said clutch meansincluding said substantially smooth 8) clutching surface is carried bysaid operating shaft, and said oompiemeriiary si bstsntialiy smoothsurface opposed to said clutching surface is provised on said pulley.

References Qieal t'ne file of this patent

1. IN A PICKER MACHINE FOR FORMING LAP ROLLS OF FIBROUS MATERIAL, THECOMBINATION OF MEANS INCLUDING A BELT-DRIVEN PULLEY PROVIDING A SOURCEOF CONSTANT MOTIVE ENERGY, AN OPERATING SHAFT, A POWER SHAFT, A PINIONGEAR RIGIDLY MOUNTED ON SAID POWER SHAFT, A MAIN GEAR FOR OPERATING THEPICKER MECHANISM OF THE MACHINE, SAID PINION GEAR BEING IN CONTINUOUSMESHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID MAIN GEAR, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID POWERSHAFT FROM SAID OPERATING SHAFT, CLUTCH MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF SAIDPULLEY AND SAID OPERATING SHAFT, AND MEANS TO ACTUATE SAID CLUTCH MEANSINTO CLUTCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OTHER OF SAID PULLEY AND SAIDOPERATING SHAFT FOR TRANSMITTING MOTIVE ENERGY FROM SAID PULLEY TO SAIDOPERATING SHAFT FOR ROTAT-